Arrest Made in 31-Year-Old Murder Case
30 November 2010, 11:00 | Updated: 30 November 2010, 12:49
Detectives investigating a murder and several rapes in Peterborough in the 1970's have arrested a man.
It follows a cold case review into the killing of Peterborough woman Sally McGrath and seven other linked serious sexual offences.
Sally was last seen alive at about 3pm on July 11th 1979 at the Bull Hotel in Westgate in Peterborough with a man.
Her body, naked except for a pair of boots, was found on March 1st 1980, partially buried in Wild Boar Spinney, at Castor Hanglands, to the west of Peterborough.
A post mortem examination revealed she had died from a blunt force injury to her head but it's not known what caused the injury.
Sally was 22 years old and living with her parents in Towler Street, Peterborough.
Sally's murder and the series of sexual offences, which also took place in the Peterborough area, are being reviewed by a dedicated team of officers from the force's Major Investigation Team.
The 58-year-old man was arrested at about 6am today at an address in Fareham in Hampshire.
He has been taken to a police station in Hampshire and is due to be brought to Cambridgeshire this afternoon.
Detective Superintendent Jeff Hill, who is leading the investigation, said: "These were shocking crimes in which a young woman was brutally murdered and other young women were seriously sexually assaulted. My team is dedicated to ensuring that no stone is left unturned as we gather further evidence in relation to these awful crimes.
"No unsolved crime is ever closed and this operation is part of an ongoing review of cold case murder investigations within the county.
"We are committed in our efforts to secure justice for Sally and her family but we also need help from members of the public. Anyone with information about Sally's disappearance and murder should not hesitate to call us.
"Sally's family and the rape victims have been kept fully informed of our investigation and will continue to be as it progresses."
Anyone with information about the murder of Sally McGrath or the serious sexual offences should contact the Operation Highfields incident room on 0345 456 456 4, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.